Like a caterpillar on a leaf,
fear gnaws along the edge
of his shoulder blade
stripping muscle from bone.
Too much exposition’s required
to square the round moment
to his expectation’s shortfall.
The lassitude’s pervasive;
his will’s been siphoned,
until even submission’s
not enough to extirpate
his life from his derision.
Better to laugh than not,
to change shape than not.
(March 8, 2017)
subtext 